Some November HAPPENINGS in the Florida Keys with KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts Villas & Marinas

Some November HAPPENINGS in the Florida Keys- Stone Crab Season, Bubbafest Bike Fest Tours and 24 Hour Freedom Swim and Veterans Day Parade among many other activites- this week with KeysCaribbean in the Florida Keys!

The Florida Keys / October 15 – May 15

Stone Crab Season

Those succulent claws, brought to shore fresh daily from the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, will drip with drawn butter and mustard sauce on the chins of hungry locals and visitors. A series of food festivals during the season celebrate the sustainable seafood resource throughout the Keys.

The National Park Service is to honor all military veterans with special events and free entrance to all 401 national parks for everyone during the Veterans Day weekend, including Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Bring your muscle mar, classic car, hot rod, truck or motorcycle to the inaugural event through the Keys benefiting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. This charitable event is to provide funds to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research, patient support and education. Show your support for pink! Enjoy this one-day ride through the Florida Keys and count the bridges from Key Largo to Bahia Honda State Park. Collect a great poker hand to turn in at the evening awards dinner darty in Tavernier. More than $1,000 in awards and prizes are to be given.Contact: 305-522-5864

The Upper Keys:

In Key Largo and Islamorada, where KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts and Marinas has two exclusive locations -Mariners Resort Villas & Marina and the Historic Tavernier Inn

The out-and-back foot race crosses the 65-foot-high, 1.25-mile-long Jewfish Creek Bridge and the southern portion of the 18-Mile Stretch, a segment of U.S. Highway 1 between Florida City and Key Largo that was recently completed after $330 million in improvements. The 10k event in addition to a half marathon and 5k run/walk is open to all ages, and is held in conjunction with a health & fitness expo each year. Register online at keylargobridgerun.comContact: 305-451-1642; Candy 305-522-4072Email:candy@keylargobridgerun.com

Anglers compete for prizes and trophies in this second annual event, targeting snook, redfish, bonefish, tarpon and permit. Highlights include an all-American barbecue on the beach at Cheeca, for angler and guest, as well as guide and guest; daily continental breakfast dockside at World Wide Sportsman and an awards banquet, characteristic of the casual elegance that defines Cheeca Lodge & Spa.Contact: Julie Olsen 305-517-4449Email:jolsen@cheeca.com

Founders Park is to serve as a backdrop for this Veterans Day event to help teens of Special Operations soldiers killed in Iraq / Afghanistan. Eight swimmers consisting of active duty military, wounded warriors and a military spouse are to relay-swim for 24 hours to raise money for Gold Star Teen Adventures, a non-profit organization that assists families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.

Visitors who participate in DRC’s ‘Meet the Dolphin’ program can bring their own Santa hats, reindeer antlers or other accessories to use while posing. DRC’s experienced photographers will shoot the pictures using high-resolution digital cameras. ‘Meet the Dolphin’ guests go onto a floating dock to give backrubs and share a “flippershake” with a dolphin and have their photo taken. The program is offered several times each day on a walk-in basis and costs $25 per person in addition to general admission prices. The photos are supplied on a flash drive for $20 for one person, and $35 for multiple people in the same shot. Quality prints are also available and print prices vary depending on number ordered. Group size is limited to four people. Contact: 305-289-1121

Marathon / November 9

Veteran’s Day Parade

Starting at 11 a.m., the parade is scheduled to travel along U.S. 1 from the old Boot Key Bridge up to the Sadowski Causeway (Key Colony Beach), then heading back and ending at the American Legion, near mile marker 49. At the American Legion, there is to be food, raffles and more.Contact: Pam Marco 305-289-0833

Marathon / November 9

Aviation Day & Open House at Marathon Airport

Refurbished historic “warbirds” and home-built airplanes are to be displayed at the airport and aviation museum, located at mile marker 51. Free plane rides await kids ages 8-17 with appropriate permission. This food and fun-filled event is sponsored by the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Open to the public, the family-friendly free event is to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Contact: Teresa Condas 305-942-1426

The Lower Keys:

In the Lower Keys, KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts and Marinas has the Coral Hammock Resort Villas and Kings Point Marina & Condominiums vacation rentals

More than 40 species of fish are targeted during these months, with divisions for men, women, junior anglers (ages 10 to 14) and Pee Wees (under 10 years old).Contact: Rob Harris 305-587-6718Email:director@keywestfishingtournament.com

The exhibit, ‘Depicting Hemingway: Guy Harvey Sketches The Old Man and the Sea’?? is to feature 59 original pen and ink drawings which follow the story line of Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel, The Old Man and the Sea. Widely recognized today as one of the world’s finest marine wildlife artists, Guy Harvey combines his unique artistic talents with his background as a marine biologist, diver, photographer and angler, to create magnificent marine wildlife art. Exhibit is to continue through November, at Key West Custom House, 281 Front Street.

This stunning annual art exhibit showcases the work of leading contemporary sculptors at the 56-acre Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and the Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower. Contemporary sculptures enhance the land and seascapes. Visit Web site for more information. Contact: 305-295-2800Email:info@sculpturekeywest.com

High-speed offshore powerboats race in Key West Harbor and surrounding waters to continue Key West’s longstanding tradition in this annual challenge, known internationally as the Indianapolis 500 of powerboat racing. A portion of the 6.5-mile course runs through Key West Harbor, meaning smooth water where racers can achieve speeds above 140 mph and provide fans breathtaking displays of skill and power. Contact: 305-296-6166

Sponsored by Santiago’s Bodega restaurant; the Studios helps keep the creative spirit going all through November with great workshops. Learn to work with simple hand tools to carve a complete sculpture using the “softstone carving method.” Gray is a modern stone carver with twenty years of professional experience. Through demonstration and individual attention, students learn the tools and carving techniques necessary to bring a design to life in stone. By the end of the series, you’ll have a finished or nearly finished piece of sculpture, and the skills necessary to continue to stone carving at home.Contact: 305-296-0458

Tommy Kelley was a man’s man, the leader of the pack a hail fellow well met. He and his three friends, Paulie, Joey and Bobby, had been inseparable since they crawled together in diapers. But Tommy’s lost his battle with cancer and his three friends have gathered at their favorite pub to celebrate Tommy’s life. But the evening takes an unexpected turn when a stranger brings a startling revelation to the three friends and Tommy’s widow, forcing them all to re-evaluate their personal view of love and whether they themselves have the courage to listen to their own hearts. Visit website for show times and tickets.Contact: 305-296-9911Email:moreinfo@redbarntheatre.com

Sponsored by Square One restaurant; the Studios helps keep the creative spirit going all through November with great workshops. Whether you are new to painting or watercolor, or just looking to hone your craft, this popular annual class will kickstart your watercolor practice in a controlled indoor environment.Contact: (305) 296-0458

Hillary Jordan is the author of two critically acclamined, award-winning novels: Mudbound and When She Woke. Jordan brings her years of experience and finely tuned author’s mind to TSKW for “You Had Me at Hello”, a writer’s workshop focusing on recognizing and crafting introductions that will grab your readers’ attention and make them want more! From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., register online. Sponosored by WLRNContact: 305-296-0458

Joseph Cavalieri will bring his wit and artistic eye back to TSKW for a 4 day workshop for all skill levels, with more emphasis on design and painting. Due to the small class size, it is also appropriate for students who are new to the medium. The course will cover the basics of cutting, copper foiling and soldering stained glass, as well as techniques of working with painting on glass that will be kiln fired. Register online.Contact: 305-296-0458

Starting at 4 p.m., and expected to travel down Duval Street, the parade is sponsored by the Naval Air Station Key West.Contact: (904) 294-1903Email:david.iverson@navy.mil

These are some of my favorite happenings this week and next in the Florida Keys. If you’re comig down to visit and stay with us at the KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts & Marinas in our vacation rentals, share some of your favorite experiences with us …